Contact terminal



Aug. 18, 1942. A. w. KIMBELL CONTACT TERMINAL Filed April 8, 1939 Patented Aug. 18, 1942 CONTACT TERMINAL Arthur W. Kimbell, West Newton, Mass., assignor to United-Carr Fastener Corporation, Cambridge, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application April 8, 1339, Serial No. 266,887

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in contact terminals and particularly to terminals used in connection with switches for radio receivers and the like apparatus where a large number of circuits must be connected and disconnected.

'I'he chief object of my invention is thevprovision of a contact terminal of simple construction capable of being manufactured inexpensively in large quantities and adapted to grip efiectively a cooperating terminal part so as to establish a good electrical contact between the parts.

Referring to the drawing, in which I have illustrated preferred embodiments of my invention: y

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing a. stator. plate commonly used as part of a multiple circuit switch of well-known construction, a rotor plate Ypositioned within the stator plate, and my rst form of improved contact terminals mounted upon the stator plate for cooperative electrical engagement with a. rotor blade provided by the rotor plate;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the preferred blank from which my first form of contact terminal is formed;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig- 1;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of my first form of improved contact terminal perse; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3 illustrating the construction of my second form of contact terminal.

Referring in detail to the drawing, I .have

shown a 'section of a multiple contact switch with which I have chosen to illustrate the use of my improved contact terminal. Thus I have illustrated in Fig. 1 a stator plate I which may 4be the end one of a switch device having a number of stator plates disposed in spaced relation and maintained in assembly through means such as bolts 2 and 3 extending through the same. The stator plate I has a central opening 4 within which is disposed a rotor plate 5. The rotor plate 5 carries one or more rotor blades 6 which project beyond the outer edge of the rotor plate and are secured to the rotor plate through attaching portions I extending into fastener engagement with the plate 5 through apertures 8. The stator plate I carries a suitable number of my improved contact terminals 9 which provide contact portions disposed within openings I0 of the stator plate for electrical engagement with the rotor blade 6 during rotation thereof, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. The rotor plate 5 is turned relative to the stator plate by means of a noncircular shaft II projecting through a similarlyshaped opening I2 of the rotor plate.

Referring in detail to my first form of improved contact terminal, I have shown in Fig. 2 a preferred form of blank from which my completed terminal is formed. The blank preferably comprises two elongated strips of metal I3 and I4 disposed in spaced parallel relationship.

The strips v'I3 and I4 are preferably of equal length whereby when one of the strips is folded into superposed relation to the other of the strips, the body of the terminal will be of double thickness substantially from one end to the other. gether yby a connecting portion I 5 (Figs. 2, 3, and 5) integrally joined to inner longitudinal edges I6 and' Il of the strips intermediate the ends thereof. The strips I3 and I4 have apertures I8-I8 adjacent one end adapted to be aligned, when the strips are in folded relation, providing an opening I9 for receiving lead wires prior to soldering of the wires to the terminal and apertures 20-20 are provided at substantially the centers of the strips for alignment, after the strips have been disposed in folded relation, providing an opening 2I to receive an attaching rivet 22 whereby the terminal mayA be secured to the stator I.

My improved co'ntact terminals areY formed from `a blank, such as illustrated in Fig. 1,

through folding the blank along the dotted line 23 of the connecting portion I5 thus moving the strip I3 transversely of the strip I`4 to dispose the strips in superposed relation.

Each of my iirst form of terminals 9 comprises an ,attaching portion 24 having the strips I3 and I4 in contiguous relation. The connecting portion I5 joins adjacent edges of the strips I3 and I4 at one side of the attaching portion 24, as most clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The opening 2| receives the rivet 22 so as to secure the terminal to the stator I, as most clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4. A wire-securing portion 25 extends in upward angular relation from one end of the attaching portion -24 and has the strips I3 and I4 in contiguous relation in my rst form of contact terminal, as most clearly shown in Fig. 3; The Wire-securing portion 25 preferably has the opening I9 for receiving and maintaining lead Wires (not shown) in temporary iixed engagement with the terminal prior The strips I3 and I4 are connected to.

l to soldering the wires thereto. A contacting portion 26 extends from an opposite en'd of the attaching portion 24 from the wire-securing portion 25 and provides a pair of contact-engagare adapted to receive the rotor blade 6 between them and grip the same, as most clearly shown in Fig. 3, so as to eiect good electrical con-4 nection -between the parts.

Referring to my second form of invention illustrated in Fig. 6, I have shown a contact terminal having a wire-securing portion 28 which differs in form from the wire-securing portion 256 of my first form through providing means whereby a lead wire (not shown) may be inserted between inner broad faces of the strips I3 and I4 and maintained between the same until ilxed. in final secured engagement with the terminal through any suitable means such as solder or spot-welding. Thus the outer end 29 of the upper strip I3 is ared outwardly from the strip Il providing a lead for receiving a lead wire between the strips. The upper strip I3 extends :Inwardly from the flared portion 29 into adjacent relation with the strip I4 and then outwardly forming a shoulder 30, behind which the lead wire is engaged. An opening 3| may be provided` in the upper strip I3 adjacent the shoulder 3Il enthe Strip Il.

. edges.

Thus it will be seen that by my invention I have provided a contact terminal of simple and inexpensive construction having a body comprising doubled strips which are connected at their side My Vimproved construction is readily adapted to use for a purpose shown by the second form of my invention wherein it is desired to secure a lead wire in temporary attachment to the terminal through a spring fastener means pro- A one-piece contact terminal for an electrical unit, said terminal having two elongated strips of metal in superposed relation, a connecting portion integral with said strips at adjacent longitudinal edges intermediate the ends thereof foi connecting said strips, said terminal having an attaching portion for securing said contact to a supporting part, a wire-securing portion extending from said attaching portion at one end, said wire-securing portion having means between said strips thereof for maintaining a lead in initial assembly with said terminal, and a contacting portion at the other end of said attaching portion, said contacting portion having means for electrical engagement with a cooperating member.

ARTHUR W. KINIBELL. 

